Effects of Manganese Carbonate Addition on the Carbocatalytic Properties of Lignocellulosic Waste for Use in the Degradation of Acetaminophen.

A carbon-based material was synthesized using potato peels (BPP) and banana pseudo-stems (BPS), both of which were modified with manganese to produce BPP-Mn and BPS-Mn, respectively. These materials were assessed for their ability to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in the presence of MnCO to degrade acetaminophen (ACE), an emerging water contaminant. The materials underwent characterization using spectroscopic, textural, and electrochemical techniques.

Effect of Fiber Loading on Green Composites of Recycled HDPE Reinforced with Banana Short Fiber: Physical, Mechanical and Morphological Properties.

Currently, research on composite materials derived from natural fibers and agro-industrial waste has generated industrial proposals for producing useful materials with sufficient mechanical strength for applications involving the reuse of waste for secondary purposes. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of fiber content on the final tensile strength of the composite material, serving as a reference for the manufacture of plates. To achieve this, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites reinforced with short banana fibers were prepared using a blade mill and hot compression molding techniques.

The Effects of Daily Consumption of Functionalized Yogurts with Sacha Inchi Oil and Interspecific Hybrid Palm Oil on the Lipid Profile and ApoB/ApoA1 Ratio of Healthy Adult Subjects.

Sacha Inchi oil (SIO) and hybrid palm oil (HPO) are potential sources of unsaturated fatty acids to improve the lipid profile of dairy products. This study evaluated, for the first time, the effects of the daily consumption of yogurts with enhanced fatty acid profiles on plasma lipids related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. A pilot, randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial was conducted with 47 participants assigned to three groups: SIO-enriched yogurt (Group A), HPO-enriched yogurt (Group B), and plain yogurt (Group C).

Antioxidant Peptides from Sacha Inchi Meal: An In Vitro, Ex Vivo, and In Silico Approach.

Plant-derived antioxidant peptides safeguard food against oxidation, helping to preserve its flavor and nutrients, and hold significant potential for use in functional food development. Sacha Inchi Oil Press-Cake (SIPC), a by-product of oil processing, was used to produce Sacha Inchi Protein Concentrate (SPC) in vitro, hydrolyzed by a standardized static INFOGEST 2.0 protocol.

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Gelatin Nanoparticles with Bitter Orange Peel Extract for Food Applications.

Bitter orange is a citrus fruit rich in bioactive compounds, but its waste is currently underutilized. One potential solution is to encapsulate these bioactive compounds. This research aims to synthesize gelatin nanoparticles loaded with an ethanolic extract of bitter orange peel and to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

Impact of Physical Activity on Cellular Metabolism Across Both Neurodegenerative and General Neurological Conditions: A Narrative Review.

Background: Regular physical activity plays a crucial role in modulating cellular metabolism and mitigating the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Multiple Sclerosis.

Objective: The objective of this review is to evaluate the molecular mechanisms by which exercise influences cellular metabolism, with a focus on its potential as a therapeutic intervention for neurological disorders.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed scientific articles, with a focus on the period between 2015 and 2024, to analyze the effects of exercise on mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and metabolic health.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Internal Jugular Vein Variants and Their Relationship to Clinical Implications in the Head and Neck.

: The internal jugular vein (IJV) is a vascular structure that is responsible for the venous drainage of both the head and neck and is commonly found posterior to the internal carotid artery and adjacent to cervical lymph nodes or nerve structures such as the glossopharyngeal and accessory nerves. As a vagal nerve, it is an important reference point for surgical access in neck interventions and dissections. : The databases Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and LILACS were searched until August 2024.

Scoping Review About spp. in Colombian Pig Farms from 2009 to Mid-2024.

In Colombia, research on Salmonella concerning animal health, veterinary diagnostics, and epidemiology within the primary production chain is limited. This study aimed to analyze the published data about Salmonella in the Colombian primary pig production chain from 2009 to mid-2024. This involved an exploratory literature review using systematic search strategies, including articles, graduate studies, conference presentations, and technical reports from the selected period.

Unveiling pandemic patterns: a detailed analysis of transmission and severity parameters across four COVID-19 waves in Bogotá, Colombia.

Background: Despite a wealth of data from high-income countries, there is limited information on the distinct epidemiological patterns observed in diverse, densely populated regions within Latin America. This retrospective analysis of COVID-19's four major waves in Bogotá, Colombia, evaluates 1.77 million cases in detail.

Mapping food system drivers of the double burden of malnutrition using community-based system dynamics: a case study in Peru.

Background: Peru is facing a double burden of malnutrition (DBM), characterized by the co-existence of undernutrition and overnutrition. Double-duty actions that concurrently target common drivers of undernutrition and overnutrition, while ensuring no unintended side effects, are recommended to effectively address the DBM. To understand these complex common mechanisms and design context-specific double-duty actions, there is a need for participatory systems approaches.

Achatina fulica haemocyanin-derived peptides as novel antimicrobial agents.

Haemocyanin-derived peptides were previously found in semi-purified fractions of mucus secretion from the snail Achatina fulica, which exhibited an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus strains. Here, an in silico rational design strategy was employed to generate new antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from A. fulica haemocyanin-derived peptides (AfH).

Preoperative immunonutrition and postoperative outcomes in patients with cancer undergoing major abdominal surgery: Retrospective cohort study.

Background And Objectives: Surgical resection is a first-line treatment for patients with cancer, but preoperative malnutrition is a risk factor for postoperative complications. This study aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative administration of an immunonutrition regimen and postoperative clinical outcomes in patients with cancer undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Methods: The Surgical Prehabilitation Multimodal Oncology (SUPREMO) retrospective cohort study, conducted from January 2021 to December 2023, included patients with cancer undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Leptus alberti n. sp. (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) parasitizing free-living colonies of Apis mellifera, Partamona peckolti, Paratrigona eutaeniata and Tetragonisca angustula in Totoró and Valle del Cauca, Colombia.

This study examined the ectoparasites in free-living wild bee colonies in Totoró, Cauca Department, and Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Researchers collected 2116 bee specimens: 620 from Cauca (200 Apis mellifera, 320 Partamona peckolti, and 100 Paratrigona eutaeniata) and 1496 from Valle del Cauca (Dagua, Tocota, Buga, Cali, Pradera), including 1498 A. mellifera and 48 Tetragonisca angustula.

Evaluation of morphological and cytotoxic effects of minoxidil on Phaseolus vulgaris L. as a plant model.

The increasing presence of drugs in the environment has triggered a pollution crisis on a global scale, generating concern about their ecotoxicological effects on ecosystems. In this context, minoxidil, a vasodilator drug widely used in the treatment of androgenic alopecia, has been scarcely investigated in plant systems. Therefore, this study evaluated the morphological and cytotoxic effects of minoxidil on Phaseolus vulgaris L as a bioindicator.

The effect of sample site and collection procedure on identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Sample collection is a key driver of accuracy in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Viral load may vary at different anatomical sampling sites and accuracy may be compromised by difficulties obtaining specimens and the expertise of the person taking the sample. It is important to optimise sampling accuracy within cost, safety and accessibility constraints.

Integration of Design of Experiments, Analysis of Variance and Response Surface Methodology in Assessing Heterogeneous Catalysts Processes: A Minireview.

This work reviews the application of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Design of Experiments (DOE), and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in heterogeneous catalysis, based on an analysis of recent scientific literature. Heterogeneous catalysis plays a key role in various industries, guiding chemical reactions, optimizing the performance of different processes and/or prioritizing products, and ANOVA, DOE and RSM are valuable tools to understand the intricate relationships between catalyst properties, process variables and reaction responses. This understanding facilitates improvements in catalysts performance and selectivity, thereby optimizing processes.

Exploring the potential of Braingame Brian for executive function improvement in Spanish-speaking children with ADHD: A pilot study.

Considering the implications of executive function (EF) in the core symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), further research is required on strategies such as therapies, treatments, and rehabilitation programs focused on improving EF. This study aimed to assess the potential of an EF training program called "Braingame Brian" in improving working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility in children with ADHD. The programme was developed in the Netherlands and has been shown to be effective in pilot studies of ADHD populations conducted in this country.

When being unattractive is an advantage: effects of face perception on intuitive culpability judgments.

This experiment explored the influence of facial attractiveness and trustworthiness on guilty judgments. We recruited 128 participants, randomly assigned to high and low time pressure conditions to act as judges in a simulated case. Participants judged nine male faces from the Chicago Face Database with three attractiveness levels (unattractive, neutral and attractive), featuring a 2 × 3 mixed factorial design, with consistent standardized average levels of face trustworthiness.

Translation and Validation of the Spanish Version of the Banff Patellofemoral Instability Instrument 2.0.

Background: The Banff Patellofemoral Instability Instrument (BPII) 2.0 is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) tailored specifically for patellofemoral instability. The BPII 2.

Inferring stability and persistence in the vaginal microbiome: A stochastic model of ecological dynamics.

The interplay of stochastic and ecological processes that govern the establishment and persistence of host-associated microbial communities is not well understood. Here we illustrate the conceptual and practical advantages of fitting stochastic population dynamics models to multi-species bacterial time series data. We show how the stability properties, fluctuation regimes and persistence probabilities of human vaginal microbial communities can be better understood by explicitly accommodating three sources of variability in ecological stochastic models of multi-species abundances: 1) stochastic biotic and abiotic forces, 2) ecological feedback and 3) sampling error.

Improving diagnosis in patients with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome through the evaluation of non-criteria antibodies.

Objectives: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease driven by antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Currently, APS diagnosis requires a combination of clinical manifestations (thrombosis and/or obstetric morbidity) and the persistent presence of at least one criteria aPL: anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL), anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies (aβ2GPI) or lupus anticoagulant (LA). Patients with suggestive obstetric symptoms but lacking criteria aPL face diagnostic challenges.